About William Dalton of Bispham

William Dalton was born in 1513, the son of Sir Roger Dalton & Jane Towneley. He died in 1543 and married 2 wives;

1- Margaret Torbrock and had issue.

2 - Jane Towneley and had issue.

With William we reach the second of those much larger families which distinguish the Daltons of the Tudor period. His first wife was Margaret, daughter of Sir William Torbrock of Torbrock Hall. Gregson gives Dalton of Bispham among the Torbrock alliances, but in spite of the seven children born to them, none left descendants. William married secondly, Jane, daughter of Sir John Towneley. Some documents claim Jane was illegitimate. In the Chetham Society's publication (Vol. 98) dealing with the Visitation of Lancashire in 1533, the Towneley pedigree shows Sir John Towneley had married one daughter into the Hesketh family; another to a Shirburne, and a third to a Banastre.

In 1533 William Dalton "demised to Thomas Hough an acre of the hill and half an acre in the town meadow in Croston" (VCHL VI p. 92). William and Jane had at least eight children:

I. Robert.

2. Thomas, married a daughter of the Richard Molyneux, Earl of Sefton. This was a family "among the oldest of our Norman houses." Sir Richard Molyneux, father of Thomas'wife, was at the coronation of Queen Mary in 1553. Lord Byron was among the descendants of this family.

3. Anne who married a Mr. Westmer.

4. Roger, our line.

5. Richard.

6. Three unnamed daughters.

When William Dalton died in 1543, there devolved on his eldest son, Robert (not our line), the care of his widowed mother (Jane) and the younger members of the family. Trouble and change were the lot that lay before them, due both directly and indirectly to fidelity to the Roman Catholic faith in which they had been bred, and which brought ever more and more severe penalties on its adherents. The Reformation begun under Henry Vill had involved, with the suppression of the Monasteries in 1536 and 1539, not only religious difficulties, but immense changes in land ownership, since thousands of acres and a vast amount of real property were thrown back into the hands of the Crown, and by it sold or leased to new owners.

The Will of William Dalton, son of Roger Dalton of Croston:

By R.N.D. Hamilton of the DGS.

William Dalton the elder son of Roger Dalton by his first marriage is described in the pedigree as "of Bispham", though he must have continued to hold the Croston property, under some settlement of it. In the pedigree his second wife Jane is described as the "bass' daughter of Sir John Towneley, the Towneleys being another important Lancashire family. However, in the addenda and corrigenda in the volume of the Harleian Society in which the pedigree appears, there is a note that Jane Towneley is not called a bass daughter in the Visitation of Lancaster in 1613, p 32, where the issue of her son Thomas is given. It will also be seen that in the pedigree Ellen, William's aunt is described as Lady Garter. It is noted in the addenda and corrigenda that she was the wife, first of Rigbys and secondly, of Sir Christopher Barker, Garter, King-at-Arms.

There is a copy of William's will in the Towneley manuscripts held in the Manuscripts Department of the British Library, where I have inspected it. It is in a bound volume and is numbered 1474 in that volume. There is a note at the front of the volume, Evidences of Lancashire Gentry, and the manuscripts were purchased at a sale at Sotheby's in 1883. I noticed that besides the will there were other documents containing the name Dalton, but I did not have time to note them, particularly as sow at least were in Latin, though William's will itself was in English.

The will reads:

"In the name of god Amen. I William Dalton of Bispham in ye County of Lancs. Esq. 28th November in the year of Henry VIII ye 35th and in the year of our lord 1543 my testament and last will duly made in manner and form following first I ordayne Jane my wife my Executrix. Also I give unto Richard my youngest some all my portion of goods which remain over and above my debts and funeral expenses. Also I will yt that my said wife by the decease of Richard Radcliffe myne Uncle shall have all the goods which I ought to have. Also I will yt that my said wife shall bestowe such sums of money as she shall receive for the marriage of my son and heir upon the marriage of my four daughters, Jane, Margery, Anne and Margaret. And also I ordayne Sir Henry Ffaryngton, Knight and Raufe Bradshaws, Esq. to be supervisors of this my said will and to the same I have sett my seale and subscribed my name the day and year first above written. These being witnesses, Alexander Hoghton, Sir Robert (?) John Waddington, Thomas Bowker, Ann (?) and Thomas Rydinge"

As indicated, there were two names, which I was unable to decipher.

There is no mention in the will of the manor of Bispham or any other lands. 'These would probably have descended under the terms of some settlement or the law of inheritance of land. William's mother was the daughter of Sir John Ratclyffe and it looks as though his uncle Richard Radcliffe had died, but the distribution of goods under his will had not yet been carried out at William's death. It would look from the pedigree as though his daughters Jane and Margery were daughters of the first marriage and Anne the daughter of the second marriage, while Margaret is not specifically shown but may have been one of the "3 others" of the first marriage, particularly as the first wife's name was Margaret. However, there is small pedigree in the margin to the manuscript containing the copy will showing them all as daughters of the second marriage. Them is no mention in the will of any sons of the first marriage (possibly because they had died) and no mention in the will of the first and second sons of the second marriage, possibly because they were considered adequately provided for by the settlements of land as Robert the eldest, who established the Thurnham estate and sold Bispham and Croston, almost certainly was. Sir Henry Ffaryngton is appointed supervisor as he was in William's fathers will. It is particularly interesting to see that Alexander Hoghton is a witness to the will for the Hoghton's were another important Lancashire family, living at Hoghton Tower five miles east of Preston.

Margery fyrst wyff to . . . . Wenloke & after to Gylbert Moreton & had issue by nether of them but dyed sans issu.

Robert dalton of Thurnam weded Anne doughter of John Kechyn.

Pg.376

ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.

PAGE 86. Jane Townley, wife of William Dalton, is not called a base daughter in 'Visitation Lancashire, 1613,' p. 32, where the issue of her son Thomas is given. Ellen Dalton was wife of . . . . Rigbye, and secondly of Sir Christopher Barker, Garter King-at-Arms.

Sir John le Fleming, of Wath in Yorkshire, who married Isabel, one of the sisters, made a settlement of the manor of Croston in 1318, the remainder, however, being to 'the right heirs of John.' (fn. 10) This moiety descended regularly (fn. 11) to William Fleming of Wath, who died about 1470, leaving two daughters as co-heirs, both named Elizabeth. (fn. 12) One Elizabeth married Richard Dalton, lord of the neighbouring manor of Bispham, and her fourth part of the manor of Croston descended like Bispham until 1558, when it was sold to Sir Thomas Hesketh of Rufford, who held the other fourth by inheritance. (fn. 13) The other Elizabeth had married his ancestor Thomas Hesketh, but though the marriage was annulled, and she united herself to one Thurstan Hall, Hesketh appears to have acquired the Lancashire part of her inheritance, including this fourth share of the manor.

.... etc.

13. The descent of the manor to Hesketh and Dalton is stated in the plea of 1472 above cited; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 39, m. 14 d. In 1482 Robert Dalton claimed a moiety of the manor of Croston, with twenty messuages, &c., in Bispham, Mawdesley and Dalton, against Margaret Dalton widow, Richard Dalton, esq., and Elizabeth his wife; ibid. 55, m. 8. Richard Dalton was in possession of the moiety of the manor in 1500; ibid. 90, m. 5. In the same year Roger son and heir of Richard Dalton granted to Bartholomew son of William Hesketh the reversion of messuages, &c., in Longton and Croston, including the fourth part of a water-mill in Croston, and the third part of lands, &c., called Selynhurst in Croston and Mawdesley; ibid. 92, m. 1. In 1477 Richard Dalton and Elizabeth his wife conceded to John son of William Fleming an annuity of 46s. 8d. charged on lands, &c., in Croston and Mawdesley; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1638. Richard and his wife in 1478 released to Thomas Hesketh and Elizabeth his wife all their interest in the lands of William Fleming; no. 1547. They made a feoffment of their estate in 1482, with remainder to Roger son of Richard; no. 1551. Disputes between Thomas Hesketh and Richard and James Dalton were in 1489 referred to arbitration; Add. MS. 32107, no. 1162. Again in 1500 Roger son of Richard Dalton granted various lands, &c., in Croston and Mawdesley, reserving only, it would seem, the manor and demesne lands; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1538. See also Dep. Keeper's Rep. xl, App. 554. Roger Dalton and William his son and heir-apparent gave an acquittance for money owing by Thomas Hesketh in 1520; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1542. William Dalton in 1533 demised to Thomas Hough an acre on the hill and half an acre in the town meadow in Croston; no. 1475. Robert Dalton of Bispham and Joan widow of William Dalton in 1558 sold to Sir Thomas Hesketh the fourth part of the manor of Croston with all other their hereditaments there; no. 1555; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 19, m. 29.

14. See the preceding note and the account of Rufford. Thomas Hesketh and Elizabeth his wife were tenants of half the manor of Croston, &c., in 1486; Final Conc. iii, 142. Hugh Hesketh was the feoffee. In 1487 Thurstan Hall and Elizabeth his wife, daughter and co-heir of William Fleming, agreed to abide the award of Thomas Earl of Derby and others as to their disputes with Thomas son and heir-apparent of Robert Hesketh, concerning manors, messuages, lands, &c., in Wath, Clifton, Rathmell and Dalton in Yorkshire, also in Croston, Mawdesley and Longton in Lancashire; Towneley MS. RR, no. 622. .... etc.

29. Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vi, no. 8. Richard was seven years old. Livery of his lands was made to the heir in 1542. The value was returned as follows: Moiety of the manor of Longton, £8 12s.; moiety of the manor of Croston and Mawdesley, £43 17s. 6d.; tenements in Litherland, £4 18s.; in Huyton, 9s.; rent of the manor of Chorley, 10s.; rent of land in Tarleton (?), 8s.; Raines MSS. xxv, p. 295. Agnes widow of Thomas Ashton had an annuity of £25. Richard son of Thomas son of Thomas Ashton claimed messuages, &c., in Croston and Mawdesley against Seth Worsley and Anne his wife in 1555; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 199, m. 5. In the following year he purchased a messuage, &c., in Croston and Mawdesley from Joan Dalton, widow, Robert Dalton and Anne his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 17, m. 125.

44. Joan widow of William Dalton in 1545–6 claimed a close called Castle Place against Henry Croston; also lands called the Paradise, Oldfield, Westhead, Withens and Hillfield; Pal. of Lanc. Assize R. 25. In 1559 the lands of William Nelson of Mawdesley included a close of land called Castle Hill, lying in Croston; Towneley MS. BB, no. 54. Thomas Nelson of Chaddleworth in Berkshire in 1590 had a capital messuage and tenement called Castleyard, which was soon afterwards sold to Robert Hesketh of Rufford; no. 1632, 1607, 117. See also Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), iii, 224, 340. It is noteworthy that there was a street called St. Marygate in Croston in 1371, when Richard the Miller gave his wife Alice for life a burgage in that street, lying between burgages of John de Croston and Cecily Primrose; Towneley MS. BB, no. 89. Adam de Redeley and Cecily his wife, daughter of William Primrose, are named in 1364; no. 1634. The Town Meadow was in 1539 the free tenement of Sir Robert Hesketh; Pal. of Lanc. Writs of Assize, bdle. 18, Lent, 31 Hen. VIII.

47. Sir Peter Legh died in 1528 holding an annual rent in Croston of the king in socage; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vi, no. 63. In 1634 the estate is called 2 acres of land, but the tenure is not given; ibid. xxviii, no. 32. Among the pleadings occurs the claim of Joan daughter of William Waringson, who claimed a messuage and lands in Croston against Gilbert de Ince and Alice his wife, John de Goldburn and Adam de Orrell, and recovered against Goldburn; Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 2, m. 2 d. It was shown that Gilbert and Alice claimed nothing but the service of 16 lb. of wax yearly by which the lands were held. See also ibid. 8, m. 6. In Croston was part of the Balderston estate (Lancs. Inq. p.m. Chet. Soc. ii, 63), afterwards held by Edmund Dudley (1509), Radcliffe of Winmarleigh (1521, &c.) and Gerard (1593); Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iv, no. 13; v, no. 3, &c.; xvi, no. 2. It was held of Osbaldeston; ibid. viii, no. 1. William Dicconson of Eccleston (1604) held his lands in Croston of the king as of the late priory of St. John of Jerusalem (12d. rent), of Robert Hesketh (2s. 4d.) and Thomas Ashton (4d.) as of their manors of Croston; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 18. Henry Rowe held a cottage of Hesketh and Ashton, lords of Croston, in 1608; ibid. 93. William Stopford of Ulnes Walton (1617) held a messuage, &c., of Thomas Ashton by 6d. rent, and another of Robert Hesketh; ibid. ii, 73. Matthew Clifton in 1472 held a messuage and lands in Croston claimed by Thomas Hesketh, Elizabeth his wife, Richard Dalton and Elizabeth his wife in right of the wives; Pal. of Lanc. Writs of Assize, 4 Aug. 12 Edw. IV. In 1545 Matthew son and heir of Christopher, brother and heir of Matthew Clifton, deceased, conveyed to Joan Dalton widow and Robert her son, heir of William Dalton, deceased, a messuage called Keyhouse with land in Croston; also a close of pasture called Castlepool Hey in Mawdesley; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 181, m. 9. Thomas Mercer and Thomas his son and heir held messuages and lands in Croston and Mawdesley in 1548; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 13, m. 205.

.... Three years later (in 1550) Joan widow of William Dalton claimed a tenement in Croston against Henry son and heir of Richard Croston; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 189, m. 3. Henry Croston in 1567 sold a piece of land in Croston to Sir Thomas Hesketh; Towneley MS. BB, no. 1592. .... etc.

A copy was obtained from Voyla Dalton Smith, the daughter of John Luther Dalton and a copy of the Dalton pedigree chart sent to Sarah Cedenia Dalton of Parowan, Utah, by John Luther Dalton.

In a letter sent to me, dated March 19, 1960, Mrs. Voyla Dalton Smith has this to say, "Father left on a mission to England the 28th of April 1863 and re- turned 1866. He also made a subsequent trip to England for genealogical research in 1888 and compiled his findings in 1889. Father never put down the source of his information as I have indicated but Mother said that he searched histories, deeds, wills, cemetery records and etc."

— 1 —

LeSieur or Sire de Dalton came from Normany, France, in 1135 A.D. with King Henry II of England.

The eldest son John was granted on the death of his father, the Manors of Dalton and Byspham in Lancashire, England. He executed a deed in favor of his eldest son John 1193 A.D. He had two sons.

— 2 —

John Dalton or Doldon was given a deed 1193 A.D. Lancashire, England. Simon de Dalton was mentioned in a deed 1190 A.D. Lancashire, England.

*Note — In the Sarah Cedenia Dalton copy "The eldest son John executed a deed in favor of his eldest son third John 1193 A.D."

— 3 —

(1) Sir Richard, eldest son of John, was a crusader in the Holy Land 1187 A.D. He killed several Saracens. From this the family takes the green griffin in its crest. He was buried at Dalton with his legs crossed.

6-Andrew Dalton, born 1616, Whitney, Oxford, England. He died in 1721. The last of his descendants as far as could be traced was William, who died 1850.

7-Johanna

Walter Dalton, born 1603, the eldest son of Walter (Our Ancestor) married Jane Needham and left issue. After the battle of Worchester he settled in South Wales about 1651. Walter Dalton died 1666 and Jane Needham died May 1, 1714. Children:

— 18 —

1 -Charles Dalton, born 1639, Whitney, Oxford, England, died 23 Oct. 1707. Married Jane Shedd or Shead. They had nine children, none of the sons left issue.

2-Thomas Dalton, born 1643, Whitney, Oxford, England — died young.

3-Ormand Dalton, born 1645, Whitney, Oxford, England — died young.

4- Walter Dalton, born 1648, Whitney, Oxford, England — died young.

5-James Dalton (Our Line), born 1650, Whitney, Oxford, England died May 15, 1721 — He married Joyce Vaughn, 1677. She was the daughter of Rowland Vaughn. She was born 1647 Pembrey, Carmarthanshire, Wales, and died March 14, 1731.

6-Johanna, born 1653 — Married James Butler.

James Dalton, born 1650, married Joyce Vaughn, 1677. They left issue.

.... etc.

______________

'Dalton01'

Sir Richard Dalton of Bypsam, Lancashire

1. Sir Robert Dalton

m. _Latham (dau of Sir Thomas Latham)

A. Sir John Dalton

m. _ Hussey (dau of Sir Henry Hussey)

i. Sir John Dalton

m. _ Pilkington (dau of Sir Richard Pylkyngton)

a. .... etc.

b. Robert Dalton of Bispayne

m. Margaret

(1) Richard Dalton of Croston

m. _ Fleming (dau of Sir William Fleming of Wath, Yorkshire)

(A) Roger Dalton of Dalton Hall

m1. _ Ratclyff (dau of Sir John Ratclyff of Lancashire)

(i) William Dalton of Bispam

m1. Margaret Terboke (dau of Sir William Terboke of Terboke Hall)

(a) Margery Dalton (dsp)

m1. _ Wenloke

m2. Gylbert Moreton

(b)+ other issue (dsp) - Robert, Roger, Jane, 8 others

m2. Jane (natural daughter of Sir John Towneley of Lancashire)

* (m) Robert Dalton of Bispham, Pillin and Thurnham (dsp 1580)

m. Anne Kechyn (dau of John Kechyn)

Visitation ends with this generation, identifying Robert as "of Thurnham". This is presumed to be the Robert who is the first mentioned by Commoners, being described therein as "of Bishpam and Pilling, who acquired by purchase, in 1556, the manor and estate of Thurnham" and who was succeeeded by his nephew.